Tangential sheet cooling of internal-combustion chambers



Sept. 21, 1954 R, H. GODDARD 2,689,453

TANGENTIAL SHEET COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION CHAMBERS Filed Dec. 11, 1952 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. GODDARQDECD. gsmza c. GODDARDDGCUTRIX.

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 TANGENTIAL SHEET COOLING F INTER- NAL-COMBUSTION CHAMBERS Robert H. Goddard, deceased, late of Annapolis,

Md.', by Esther C. Goddard, executrix, Worcester, Mass., assignor of one-half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 11, 1952, Serial No. 325,254

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to means for cooling the enclosing wall of an internal combustion chamber using liquid combustion elements.

It has been proposed to cool such walls by providing a protecting film of liquid therefor, and the present invention relates to improved constructions and devices for supplying such a cooling film. A further object of the invention relates to the provision of more efficient combustion in an internal combustion chamber.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawingjn which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in-section, and showing a combustion chamber having this invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view to be described;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken along. the line 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional elevation, similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the combustion chamber wall and showing an oxygen inlet; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken along the line 6-45 in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the combustion chamber C is shown as of spherical form and as provided with the usual open discharge nozzle N. The chamber C is enclosed by an outer casing or jacket I0 which may be eccentrically spaced from the spherical wall of the chamber C. The chamber C and jacket I 0 are maintained in fixed spaced relation by a plurality of spacing studs or braces [2.

A liquid oxidizer, such as liquid oxygen, is supplied under pressure to the jacket space S through a feed pipe l4 and branch pipes and 16. A plurality of outwardly-displaced portions or dents are provided in the combustion chamber wall W and each of these dents has a spray opening 22 in its end wall 23. These dents are so distributed over the combustion chamber wall W that tangential sprays of liquid oxygen are provided over substantially theentire surface of the combustion chamber, and the wall W is thus effectively cooled and protected from the highly heated combustion gases.

Fuel is supplied under pressure to the combustion chamber through a feed pipe and a plurality of annular branch feed pipes 31, 32, 33, 34

2 and 35. Each branch feed pipe 3ltlirough 35 supplies fuel to a plurality of nozzles 40, each of which extends loosely through a bushing 42 connecting the jacket ill with the wall W.

The inner end of the bushing 42 preferably abuts the wall W and the nozzle 40 is firmly seated in a slightly smaller opening 44 in the wall. With this construction, each nozzle is surrounded by an air space which prevents freezing of the gasoline or other liquid fuel in the nozzle 40 by the very cold liquid oxygen in the jacket space S.

One or more spray openings 46 (Fig. 3) are provided in the inner end of each nozzle 40.

The supply pipe 30 is preferably reduced in diameter toward the nozzle N, so that substantially uniform flow through all of the nozzles is achieved. The eccentric position of the jacket l0 likewise provides substantially uniform fiow through all of the dents 20.

With this construction, the inner surface of the combustion chamber wall W is substantially uniformly covered and protected by a cooling film of liquid oxygen, and the liquid fuel issprayed into the interior of the combustion chamber where it combines very efficiently with the oxidizer which is quickly vaporized as it travels inward from the chamber wall.

In Fig. 4, a modified construction is shown in which the fuel nozzle 50 extends substantially inside the wall W', so that the gasoline sprays will very definitely clear the cooling film or sheet of liquid oxygen adjacent the wall W. 7

With either construction, the oxygen vapor developed adjacent the combustion chamber wall passes inward through the gasoline spray and a most efiicient combustion mixture is thereby produced.

An igniter H may be provided for starting combustion operations and may be of any available and desired type.

With the described construction, extremely efficient cooling of the combustion chamber wall is combined with most eflicient intermingling of the fuel and oxidizer to form a combustion mixture.

Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:

1. A combustion chamber for propulsion apparatus having a substantially spherical and continuous sheet metal chamber wall and an open rearward discharge nozzle, said chamber comtional devices being disposed in spaced paralleldiametral zones and extending inside of said liquid film and being provided with less divergent spray openings and directing fuel sprays to an area substantially spaced inward from said chamber wall and cooling film;

2. A combustion chamber for propulsion aprparatus having a substantially spherical and con-=- tinuous sheet metal chamber wall and an open rearward discharge nozzle, said. chamber comprising a casing enclosing a jacket space about said wall, means to supply a liquid oxidizer under pressure to said jacket space, said wall having a multiplicity of: substantially spaced and tangentially directed spray openings, whereby a cooling oxidizer film is supplied to said wall, additional spray devices for a liquid fuel, and means to supply liquid fuel under pressure to said additional devices, said additional devices being disposed in spaced parallel diametra-l zones and each comprising a tube extending substantially inward through said wall and through said cooling film, and each tube having a substantially fiat closed inner end provided with spray openings which are directed inward of said chamber and at less divergent angles than the tangential spray openings.

References; Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

